Kelvin Bowoto
Nigeria, the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) runner-up, defeated Ghana 2-1 in an international friendly match in Morocco on Saturday, March 22, 2024.
Rangers’ Cyriel Dessers and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman scored goals in each half to secure victory over the 10-man Black Stars, who had defender Jerome Opoku sent off early in the second period.
The Super Eagles were the stronger of the two teams for much of the match in front of a nearly empty Stade de Marrakech in Morocco, but the game concluded with far more uncertainty than coach Finidi George would have liked after Jordan Ayew converted a stoppage-time penalty.
Kelechi Iheanacho forced a good save from Lawrence Ati-Zigi with a thunderous half-volley and nearly set up an opening goal with a tempting free-kick that caused confusion in Ghana’s penalty area.
With about seven minutes remaining in the first half, Dessers handed Nigeria a well-deserved lead from the spot after Salis Abdul Samed was penalized for blocking a shot with his arm.
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As Ghana began the second half well, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo blasted a shot over the bar after a rapid break, but any hope of a comeback was dashed when Opoku was awarded a straight red card, leaving the handful of spectators inside the stadium perplexed. It was unclear whether the defender, who was on loan from Leicester City to Belgian club OH Leuven, had been punished for raising his elbow in an aerial challenge or for speaking to the referee.
Ghana rallied well in their first match under new coach Otto Addo, with substitute Tariq Lamptey coming close with a curling effort from the edge of the box, but the game was effectively over in the 84th minute when Lookman powered home a finish from inside the box following good work from the impressive Alex Iwobi.
However, there were a few nervous moments for the Super Eagles toward the end. Ayew calmly scored his own penalty in the fifth minute of added time, and Nwabali was called into action again in the last seconds to keep the slim lead.
Nigeria will play another friendly against Mali next Tuesday before resuming their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign in June against South Africa. Ghana’s next opponent in that qualification cycle will be Mali, followed by an exhibition against Uganda this month.
Techrectory with Agency Report.
